Nick, a former teacher, loved his new profession. He had a difficult time containing his excitement when he told his wife, each evening, about his day's events.

She wondered if she should join him.

"I often say to people I got in through self-defense," she said, explaining, with a chuckle, that she wanted to share real estate with her husband, who never lost his initial enthusiasm.

So she got her license and resigned from her job as a social worker.

"We both jumped in with both feet and were full time right from the beginning," she explained.

Although the possibility of working from home is one benefit to being a Realtor, Storrs said she prefers an office setting.

"I like getting up and going to work in the morning," she said. "I like the interaction."

In the beginning, Nick and Jean worked for another firm. But in 1994 they acquired their own Century 21 office at 5 Park St.

Nick passed away last year, and Jean, who also has a broker's license, now runs the office. Fourteen Realtors work from the site.

Storrs said real estate is a rewarding but demanding profession.

"You have to be realistic that it's not just taking a buyer out to see a cute little house on a hill," she explained. "This is a business -- you have to take it seriously.

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She said her background in social work prepared her, as it helps her to understand people's needs and wants. Of utmost importance, she notes, is helping people find homes they can reasonably afford.

Century 21 Realty Team is still a family business. Nick and Jean's daughter, Leslie Storrs DelMonico, also works there. Ten years ago, she surprised her parents by becoming a licensed Realtor without their knowledge.

In 2012, Storrs DelMonico was named "Realtor of the Year" for the Worcester Association of Realtors.

"She's a whirlwind," said Jean of her daughter.

Was she proud of this accomplishment? "You bet I was," she added.

It looks as if the mother-daughter duo might be getting ready to start a new cycle of buying and selling.

"It's very busy right now," she said. "You will hear from a lot of people that inventory is down. We have a lot of listings that are moving and getting attention."